Lush shuts UK shops 'in solidarity with Gaza'

Beauty chain Lush has shut its UK shops, website and factories in protest at the Israeli government "preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza".

In a statement, the firm said more action was also needed by the British government "to bring an immediate stop to the death and destruction, including an end to arms sales from the UK". It said it had decided to close stores for the day on Wednesday and place posters on windows with the message: "Stop starving Gaza - we are closed in solidarity." "Across the Lush business, we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine," the chain said in a statement.

"Like the rest of the world, we struggle to find ways we can help whilst the Israeli government is preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza. "One thing Lush can currently send into Gaza is our love and a strong message that we stand in solidarity.

This will take the form of halting business-as-usual by shutting our UK shops, website, and factories for one day." It added that "whilst Lush is losing a day of takings, this also means that the UK government is losing a day of tax contributions from Lush and our customers". The firm apologised to customers for any inconvenience but said that its Gaza fundraising soap Watermelon Slice has proved the most successful fundraising project in its history, "indicating how strongly our customers feel" about the situation in the region.

So far, proceeds have gone towards funding mental health support for children, but there are plans to remarket the product to raise money for medical supplies instead. In solidarity action elsewhere, climate activist Greta Thunberg embarked on her second attempt to reach Gaza by sea on 31 August.

The 22-year-old was accompanied by other activists and was cheered on by thousands of supporters as the flotilla set off from Barcelona stocked with aid. Her previous attempt in June saw her and others detained and deported by the Israeli authorities.

Reporters Without Borders has also renewed calls to stop the killing of journalists inside the territory after five, from Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, and Reuters, were confirmed dead. Israel vehemently disputes claims its forces have intentionally killed reporters or civilians, saying its sole aim is to destroy Hamas.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed since the 7 October attacks in 2023, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, mainly civilians, and took 251 people hostage. In the two years since, most of Gaza's population has been displaced, with famine declared in Gaza City..